Exhibit 99




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Contact:
---------------------                                Samuel Cypert
                                                     313-792-6646




    MASCO ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY SETTLEMENT OF BEHR CLASS ACTION LITIGATION,
  REAFFIRMS THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS GUIDANCE AND ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2002
                                CONFERENCE CALL


     Taylor, Michigan (October 29, 2002) - Masco Corporation (NYSE:MAS) today
announced preliminary settlements to resolve all class action lawsuits pending
in the United States against the Company and its subsidiary, Behr Process
Corporation, relating to exterior wood coating products formerly manufactured
by Behr. The lawsuits involve claims of excessive mildew on wood surfaces to
which the products were applied. All claims relating to the products would be
dismissed without any admission of liability or wrongdoing following final
court approval of the settlements.

     Based on the terms of the settlements, the Company believes that the
ultimate aggregate cost will approximate or be less than its previous estimate
of $200 million pre-tax. This estimate does not include any offsetting amounts
that the Company and Behr expect to recover from liability insurers or other
third parties, which the Company anticipates will be significant. The Company
will record a third quarter 2002 charge related to the settlements of the Behr
litigation. Recoveries from liability insurers or other third parties will be
recorded at such time as they are agreed to, or otherwise received.

     Masco continues to expect reported third quarter earnings to be at the
higher end of previously given guidance of $.41 to $.44 per common share,
excluding the charge the Company will record in connection with the settlements
of the Behr litigation. The Company also said that the positive sales and
economic trends it experienced in its businesses in the first nine months of
2002 have continued thus far in the fourth quarter.





     The Company also announced that it will hold a conference call regarding
2002 third quarter earnings on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Masco Chairman and CEO Richard A. Manoogian will host the conference call.
Participants in the call are asked to register five to ten minutes prior to the
scheduled start time by dialing (913) 981-4910 (confirmation #159985).

     The 2002 third quarter earnings release and supplemental material will be
distributed prior to the conference call and will be available on the Company's
website at www.masco.com.

     The conference call will be webcast simultaneously and in its entirety
through the Masco Corporation website. Shareholders, media representatives and
others interested in Masco may participate in the webcast by registering
through the Investor Relations section on the Company's website.

     A replay of the call will be available on Masco's website or by phone by
dialing (719) 457-0820 (replay access code #159985). The replay will be
available approximately two hours after the end of the call and continue
through November 19, 2002.

     Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's
leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products as well as a
leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and
other building products.

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Statements in this press release may include certain forward-looking statements
regarding Masco's future sales and earnings growth potential. Actual results
may vary materially because of external factors such as interest rate
fluctuations, changes in consumer spending and other factors over which
management has no control. Additional information about our products, markets
and conditions, which could affect our future performance, is contained in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.